Cyclopropyl cyanide is the smallest carbon ring molecule with a cyanide group attached to it. It is mainly known by its involvement in experiments with microwave spectroscopy, rotational spectroscopy and photodissociation. In 1958, cyclopropyl cyanide was first studied for its rotational spectra, by Friend and Dailey. Additional experiment involving cyclopropyl cyanide was the determination of the molecule's dipole moment through spectroscopy experiments, by Carvalho in 1967.[3]

One method of synthesis of cyclopropyl cyanide is through reducing methy 3-cyanopropionate with lithium borodeuteride. This reduction yields an alcohol, which is further reacted triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrachloride. The product, 4-chlorobutyronitrile, is reacted with sodium iodide to replace the chloride with the iodide. Lastly, the molecule is turned into a cyclic molecule by reacting with sodium hydride.[4] Another proposed method of synthesis involves reacting 4-chlorobutyronitrile with sodium amide. The sodium amide is produced by reacting solid sodium and liquid ammonia.[5]

Cyclopropyl cyanide, when heated to 660-760K and under pressure of 2-89torr, becomes cis and trans crotonitrile and allyl cyanide molecules, with some presence of methacrylonitrile. This is an isomerization reaction that is homogeneous with rate of first order. The reaction result is due to the biradical mechanism, involving the formation of carbon radicals as the three carbon ring opens up. The radicals then react to yield carbon carbon double bonds.[6]